Sabbatical as a Pilgrimage

As I prepare for my sabbatical, I’m doing so through the lens of a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken for spiritual reasons—often to a sacred place—with the purpose of drawing closer to God. The practice is ancient, rooted in both biblical tradition and Christian history.

In Scripture, the earliest examples of pilgrimage are seen in the patriarchs. Abraham, called by God in Genesis 12, left his homeland for a land God would show him—an act of faith and obedience that set a pattern for spiritual journeys. The Israelites later journeyed to Jerusalem for major feasts like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16). These were commanded pilgrimages to the temple, reinforcing community worship and remembrance of God’s acts.

The Psalms include songs of pilgrimage, especially the “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134), sung by travelers ascending to Jerusalem, usually for religious events. These songs reflect longing, joy, and hope—emotions still central to pilgrimage today.

In the New Testament, Jesus himself traveled to Jerusalem regularly (Luke 2:41–42), and His final journey there culminated in His crucifixion and resurrection. Early Christians viewed life itself as a spiritual journey where they saw themselves as “foreigners and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). Believers saw themselves as pilgrims, moving toward a heavenly city.

In post-biblical times, there was not much happening in the first three centuries since there were persistent waves of persecution facing early Christians. That changed dramatically in the 4th century. After Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, pilgrimage became not only possible but popular. His mother, Helena, made a landmark pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 326 AD. She identified many sites associated with Jesus’ life and had churches built over them—most notably the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Believers began visiting sites connected to Jesus’ life (like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives) and places associated with martyrs and saints. Pilgrimage became a way to express devotion, seek healing, or demonstrate repentance.

In short, Christians have been taking pilgrimages for thousands of years—as acts of worship, remembrance, and spiritual renewal. A pilgrim is one who journeys with purpose, not just to a place, but toward a deeper relationship with God. I resonate with the words of Theologian Richard Niebuhr, “Pilgrims are persons in motion – passing through territories not their own – seeking something we might call completion, or clarity, a goal to which only the spirit’s compass points the way.“

As I prepare for my Sabbatical, and all the adventures that are planned, I am doing so with the mentality of a pilgrim. Going places I’ve never been, but doing so with a deep desire to connect with God through movement, prayer, and creation.